[Action to Build the Gangwei District] Shandong Institute’s “Party Member Commando Team for Research on Multi-Scale 3D Geological Integrated Modeling and Fusion Technology”: Striving to Be Vanguard Forces in the Battlefield of Scientific and Technological Innovation.

On the front lines of scientific and technological innovation, there is a dedicated group of geoscientists who boldly lead the way and spearhead progress. Driven by their deep commitment to serving the Party and the nation, they have continuously achieved breakthroughs and pursued new frontiers in the research of multi-scale 3D geological integrated modeling and fusion technologies, embodying the “vanguard” spirit through concrete actions. They are the Party Member Commando Team of the Shandong Institute for Multi-Scale 3D Geological Integrated Modeling and Fusion Technology Research.

Pioneering Technological Breakthroughs

At present, the main challenges in three-dimensional geological modeling and integration stem from significant variations in geological conditions across different regions, making it difficult to accurately represent regional geological features within a 3D model. Moreover, the lack of deep‑earth data means that relying on a single data source often falls short of meeting the required modeling accuracy. Currently, modeling techniques at various scales—regional, urban, and mine‑site (with a focus on key work areas)—differ substantially, and the aforementioned issues have yet to be resolved in a breakthrough manner. In response to this technical challenge, Shandong Institute promptly established a Party-member task force dedicated to researching multi‑scale, linked 3D geological modeling and integration. The team carefully selected experienced, innovative Party-member technical leaders and, drawing on provincial‑level geological exploration projects such as “Shandong Through‑View: 3D Geological Modeling for the Heze, Jining, and Tai’an Regions” and “Shandong Through‑View: Construction of 3D Models for Major Mineral Deposits and Development of a Module for Estimating Overlying Mineral Resource Reserves,” conducted extensive field surveys, collected and analyzed data, and amassed a wealth of first‑hand information. With this solid foundation, the team resolved to tackle this highly complex and demanding field head‑on.

“How can knowledge from diverse disciplines—such as geology, computer science, and mathematics—be integrated?” “How can geological modeling methods be made more accurate and efficient?” A series of pressing questions has been laid before the task force.

To maximize the ingenuity of each commando and ensure a robust exchange of ideas, the team holds regular discussion sessions based on technical expertise, engaging in brainstorming to tackle challenging problems and promptly formulating the next phase of their research plan. “If it weren’t for hearing everyone’s perspectives and solutions during our group discussions, I might have had to take many unnecessary detours,” one member remarked. “Thanks to these exchanges, I feel I’ve gained far more than I would have through solitary reflection,” another added, with heartfelt appreciation.

And so, together, we pooled our wisdom and learned from one another, braving every hardship and never backing down on the path of technological breakthroughs. We overcame one technical challenge after another, turning what was once deemed “impossible” into “possible.”

Overcoming Obstacles: Dual Breakthroughs in Technology and Theory

Flowchart of the Construction Unit Segmentation–Splicing Modeling Process

At the outset of the modeling effort, the project team encountered numerous challenging issues: the total modeling area spans 33,340 km², with a modeling depth extending to 1,000 m below sea level; the study region lies in southwestern Shandong, where stratigraphic sequences are complex, tectonic structures are well developed, and magmatic activity is intense, resulting in a large number of intricate geological elements that require three-dimensional representation; there is also the integration of vast volumes of geological data and associated constraints; moreover, at the national level, such large-scale regional 3D geological modeling remains unprecedented, with no established reference standards or theoretical frameworks to draw upon.

To achieve technological breakthroughs, the task force members pooled their ideas and delved deeply into problem‑solving, working day and night without rest. It’s fair to say that operating at full load or even overcapacity has become the norm for this team. Team leader Yang Chen often encourages them: “We may lack experience, but we have the drive to take on challenges and fight hard! Difficulties will always arise, but there are always more solutions than obstacles.” The more they face adversity, the more resolutely they press forward. Fully aware that “innovation is the primary engine of development—yet it remains our weakest link,” the team has adopted the principle that “technology has a starting point, but innovation knows no end.” With strong support from all members, they have successfully broken through key technical performance benchmarks.

During the project implementation, the task force adopted multi-scale, high-precision 3D geological modeling and its applications in complex geological settings as its starting point, proposing a modeling approach based on “segmentation‑splicing by tectonic unit” that breaks down the modeling domain into manageable sub‑regions. This method overcomes the limitations of conventional modeling techniques in large‑scale, planar modeling, effectively addressing the practical challenge of increased modeling complexity arising from variations in regional geological conditions. As a result, the model-building process is streamlined, significantly enhancing modeling efficiency.

Pressing forward with determination, achieving outstanding and innovative results.

Based on this modeling approach, the task force leveraged 11,348 boreholes, 7,439 km of control profiles, and 653 sets of geological data to construct a regional‑scale three‑dimensional model covering 33,340 square kilometers in the Heze–Jining–Tai’an area. Using 891 boreholes, 245 km of control profiles, mine‑area geological maps, exploration‑line cross‑sections, and 183 sets of exploration reports, they developed a sub‑regional three‑dimensional model spanning 260 square kilometers in the Yanzhou–Qufu–Zoucheng coalfield cluster. Additionally, with 176 boreholes, 245 km of control profiles, urban geological surveys, and hydrogeological and environmental geological investigations—comprising 126 data sets—they built a city‑scale three‑dimensional model of Tai’an covering 280 square kilometers. Finally, by integrating 10,475 boreholes, 2,060 exploration‑line geological cross‑sections (totaling 3,262.5 km), and 720 sets of mine‑area exploration data, they constructed 99 deposit‑level three‑dimensional models encompassing 2,330.9 square kilometers. In the end, they successfully completed a province‑wide three‑dimensional geological model covering 158,000 square kilometers at depths shallower than 1,000 meters, enabling three‑dimensional visualization and comprehensive analysis of the region’s subsurface geological structure. They also contributed to the development of high‑resolution three‑dimensional geological and attribute models for mineral resources across the province, facilitating three‑dimensional management of mineral sites and rapid estimation of overlying resource volumes.

In addition, the task force has placed great emphasis on summarizing and distilling project‑implementation experience, innovatively developing a comprehensive technical framework that integrates geological data downward propagation, fuses multi‑source heterogeneous datasets, and deeply combines geoscientific expertise with advanced computational methods. This approach enables all‑round, multi‑perspective analysis of the three‑dimensional characteristics of geological bodies, significantly enhancing modeling accuracy while ensuring cross‑validation among diverse data sets. The application of this technological achievement in the “Perspective Shandong” project has served as a powerful demonstration and guiding model for nationwide geological information integration and integrated utilization, while also providing robust geoscientific support for the new round of strategic initiatives to achieve breakthroughs in mineral exploration, the high‑quality development of the Yellow River Basin, and the national digital economy. Following an appraisal by the China National Coal Association, the project outcome—“Perspective Shandong: Multi‑scale, High‑Precision 3D Geological Modeling and Its Applications in Complex Geological Settings”—has been recognized as reaching an internationally advanced level.

With renewed vigor and unwavering dedication, the Party-member assault team engaged in cutting-edge research on multi-scale three-dimensional geological integrated modeling and fusion technologies. Relying on subsequent related projects, they will continue to leverage their expertise in these areas, deepen comprehensive analyses of existing geological data, and actively advance three-dimensional mineralization prediction. They strive to further apply the project’s experience and outcomes to geological exploration, geological services, and other relevant fields, thereby ensuring national energy and resource security with outstanding results.